smart phone

Touchscreen mobile device

A smart phone is a mobile phone with computing capabilities—internet access, apps, cameras, and touchscreen interfaces.

The term emerged in the 1990s to distinguish these devices from basic cell phones.

Now that nearly all phones have these features, the distinction has faded, and phone alone usually implies a smart phone.

Also spelled smartphone.

Related

lock screen · case · Bluetooth · tablet · notifications · selfie · cracked screen · GPS · Android · apps · app store · mobile data · touch · text · group chat · pocket · iPhone · ringtone

Categories
Opposites
technological capability

smart phonefeature phone

Basic cellular without apps

flip phone · basic phone · rotary phone · brick phone · landline

device era/generation

smart phoneflip phone

Folding mobile telephone

clamshell phone · candy bar phone · Nokia 3310 · Motorola Razr · rotary phone

Family

smartphone, smartphones

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G